This time the boxing evening is in Saudi Arabia to enjoy a high voltage fight. Nick “Wrecking” Ball is looking to keep his WBA super bantamweight world title against unbeaten Australian Sam “The Ghost” Goodman
The stage is the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. A defense that, although it is part of the card headlined by Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte, promises to steal the spotlight for its clash of styles and narrative of the invincibles.
Date and time of the fight between Ball and Goodman
- Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Event time in USA: 12:45 p.m. ET / 9:45 a.m. PT
- Approximate time of Ball vs Goodman ring walk: 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT
- Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Arab country continues to establish itself as the global capital of boxing, attracting champions and crowds with lavish evenings. The desert continues to heat up with fists and excitement reaching apotheosis levels
Where to watch boxing live from USA
- Broadcast: DAZN Pay-Per-View
- Price: $49.99 USD (with 20% discount for annual subscribers and one month free).
Title on the Line
- Belt: WBA Featherweight
- Ball won the title in June 2024 against Raymond Ford and has successfully defended it against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny.
The story of Nick Ball
Nick Ball is a war tank, armored, hard-hitting, knockout. The pride of Liverpool knows how to combine speed with explosive power, two ingredients that define fights in the super bantamweight category
“A first-round knockout would be perfect… but sometimes things don’t go as planned.”
Sam Goodman from Albion Park arrives undefeated and with a reputation as a ring surgeon: precision, timing and a style that wears down and frustrates rivals
He knows that in order to graduate and enter the boxing elite, he has to knock out his opponent. Or at least snatch the title from him on the scorecards
He has already tested the waters with big names, including the fearsome Naoya Inoue in lower divisions.
What are the keys to the fight between Ball and Goodman?
Precision against technique. That’s how the fight can be defined. Ball will look to cut the ring and close the distance, while Goodman will try to keep him at bay with his jab and long combinations.
- Goodman will need more than jabs and ghost moves to strip the title from the Briton.
- Mental toughness: In a high-voltage scenario like Riyadh, patience to execute the plan will be as important as strength in the fists.
- Body blow: Both know that punishment to the torso can open the door to a knockout. Ball, especially, has perfected this tactic in his previous defenses.
This is the full lineup
- Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte – Heavyweight (main fights)
- Nick Ball vs Sam Goodman – Featherweight, WBA Title
- Raymond Ford vs Abraham Nova – Super Featherweight
- Filip Hrgovic vs David Adeleye – Heavyweight
- Hayato Tsutsumi vs Qais Ashfaq – Super Featherweight
Prediction: If Ball can set the pace and close the distance early, it could be a short night
If Goodman can extend the fight and work from the outside, it would not be unreasonable to see a close decision.
The only sure thing is that the WBA featherweight belt will remain in the hands of an undefeated fighter.
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